Paper cup

ABSTRACT

The disposable paper cup has a body formed of a cylindrical wall with a recess at the top. The portions of the body wall adjacent either side of the recess are aligned into a flap. The flap is folded over and secured to the exterior surface of the body wall to entirely enclose the cup body, except for an integral spout formed by the recess.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed on Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/732,557, filed Sep. 17, 2018, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAMLISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paper cup and more particularly, to apaper cup with a wall which is folded to form a spout and needs no lid.

2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR1.97 and 1.98

Conventional paper cups for hot or cold beverages have a large open topand require a separate lid to close the cup. The lid adds anotherelement to the production, delivery and storage cost.

Aside from the cost, closing the cup with a separate lid can createproblems. If the user squeezes the cup, the internal pressure can causethe lid to pop up, allowing the liquid in the cup to spill.

Separate lids for paper cups are not good for the environment. The lidsare often made of plastic which is not biodegradable. The lids add tothe waste which must be disposed of and accumulate in garbage dumps.

Accordingly, there is a need for a low cost, safe, environmentallyfriendly and elegant paper cup for hot and cold drinks which can be usedfor personal and commercial use, which has an integral spout and doesnot require a separate lid.

Moreover, in certain situations, such as where the liquid in the cup isto be consumed which the user is in motion or has only one handavailable to hold the cup, it may be difficult for the user to obtainthe liquid from the cup without spilling a portion of the liquid.

There is, therefore, also a need to have a cup which can be used by onehand and has an integral spout through which liquid can easily flow intothe mouth of the user, without having to remove a lid or use a straw.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a disposablepaper cup is provided having an entirely enclosed body except for anintegral spout.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a disposablepaper cup is provided. The cup has a body formed of a generallycylindrical wall. A recess is created at the top of the body. Theportions of the wall adjacent the recess are folded over to entirelyenclose the body, and define the spout formed by the recess.

The wall portions are aligned in side-by-side relation prior to beingfolded. The folded portions are sealed to the body after being folded.

An insulating sleeve may be provided surrounding the cup body.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of forminga disposable paper cup body is provided. The cup body is formed of agenerally rectangular paper sheet part having a top edge and oppositesides. The method comprises the steps of: creating a recess in the sheetpart adjacent the top thereof; sealing the sides of the part to form agenerally cylindrical body; aligning the portions of the body on eitherside of the recess; moving the aligned portions of the body togetherinto side-by-side relation; folding the aligned portions to a positionadjacent the exterior surface of the cup body such that the recess formsa spout; and sealing the aligned portions to the exterior of the cupbody.

The method further includes the steps of: creating a generallycylindrical sleeve of heat insulating material; and inserting the cupbody into the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appears, thepresent invention relates to a paper cup as described in detail in thefollowing specification and recited in the annexed claims, takentogether with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer tolike parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a paper sheet which has been cut tocreate paper portions which will form the bottom and side wall of thepaper cup;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paper cup after side wall has beenformed and the bottom attached;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the paper cup showing the portions tobe folded aligned and in side-by-side relation;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the paper cup with the alignedportions folded;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the cup of FIG. 4 with the optionalinsulating sleeve exploded;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the cup of FIG. 4 showing thelocation at which the folded portions are sealed to the exterior surfaceof the cup wall; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the cup of FIG. 3 showing the sealingpoints.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in the Figures, the present invention is a disposable paper cupwhich has an entirely enclosed body, except for an integral spout. Thebody is formed of a generally cylindrical wall with a top portion havinga recess. The portions of the body wall adjacent the recess are foldedover to entirely enclose the body, other than the spout formed by therecess.

The body wall portions are aligned in side-by-side relation prior tobeing folded. The folded portions are sealed to the body after beingfolded. The cup may further include an insulating sleeve.

The cup is formed from a sheet of paper. As seen in FIG. 1, the papersheet is cut into a generally rectangular part, which will form the wallof the body of the cup and a circular part, which will form the bottomof the cup.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the generally rectangular partactually has somewhat arcuate top and bottom edges such that when thebody of the cup is formed, as seen in FIG. 2, it is not exactlycylindrical but instead is generally cylindrical, being somewhat largerat the top than at the bottom. Thus, the resulting cup body istechnically a truncated cone, which is a common shape for drinking cupsand glasses.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “generally rectangular” isintended to include rectangular shapes, and shapes which areapproximately rectangular such as the shape of the part depicted inFIG. 1. Similarly, the term “generally cylindrical” is intended toinclude shapes which are cylindrical, and shapes which are approximatelycylindrical such as the shape of the cup body as seen in FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 shows that the generally rectangular body part includes an upperleft-hand portion 1 defined by a fold line 2. Fold line 2 extends fromthe left side of the part to the top edge of the part and partiallydefines the top edge of a central portion 3. A recess 4 is situated atthe top of central portion 3 and has a semi-circular shape with cornersat each side.

The left corner of recess 4 is aligned with fold line 2. A second foldline 5 extends from the right side of the part to the other corner ofrecess 4 and defines the upper right-hand portion 6 of the part. In thepreferred embodiment, fold lines 2 and 5 would form an angle of about 90degrees, if extended.

When the left side of the part and the right side of the part are sealedtogether to form the body of the cup, and the circular part 7 is sealedto the bottom of the cup body, the partially formed cup appears as seenin FIG. 2.

As seen in FIG. 3, when portions 1 and 6 of the partially formed cup oneither side of recess 4 are aligned and moved into side-by-side relationto form a flap, the partially formed cup appears as illustrated in FIG.3. The flap formed of portions 1 and 6 is then folded along fold line 2such that it is adjacent the exterior of the surface of the cup body,and the partially formed cup appears as seen in FIG. 4. In that state,the spout is defined by recess 4 and the entire body of the cup, withthe exception of the integral spout, is enclosed, eliminating thenecessity for a separate lid.

FIG. 5 shows a separate insulating sleeve 9 into which the body of thecup of the present invention may be received. Sleeve 9 may also beformed of paper. The use of sleeve 9 is optional and primarily employedwhen the cup contains hot beverages. However, in certain instances, thesleeve may be sized for used to secure the flat to the exterior of thecup body, eliminating the need for sealant or other securing means. Inaddition, an elastic band may be substituted for the paper sleeve byplacing the band around the folded flap and the cup body.

FIG. 6 illustrates the place 10 where the folded flap formed by portions1 and 6 may be secured to the exterior surface of the cup body.Adhesive, hook and loop tape or other sealing means (including thesleeve 9 or elastic band referred to above) may be used for sealing theflap to the cup body. FIG. 7 illustrates the places 11 and 12 on theexterior surface of the cup body and portion 1, respectively, which maybe secured together.

In some situations, the flap formed by portions 1 and 6 can be held inplace adjacent the exterior surface of the cup body by the hand of theuser, eliminating the necessity of sealing or otherwise securing theflap to the cup body by adhesive, a sleeve or an elastic band.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention hasbeen disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that manymodifications and variations could be made thereto, including, forexample, the size and shape of the cup body. It is intended to cover allof those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of thepresent invention, as defined by the following claims:

I claim:
 1. A disposable paper cup comprising an entirely enclosed bodyexcept for an integral spout.
 2. A disposable paper cup comprising abody formed of a generally cylindrical wall with a top portion having arecess, wherein the portions of said wall adjacent said recess arefolded over to entirely enclose the body, other than a spout formed bysaid recess.
 3. The cup of claim 2 wherein said wall portions arealigned and moved into side-by-side relation prior to being folded. 4.The cup of claim 3 wherein said folded portions are sealed to said bodyafter being folded.
 5. The cup of claim 2 wherein said folded portionsare secured to said body.
 6. The cup of claim 2 further comprising aninsulating sleeve.
 7. A method of forming a disposable paper cup bodyfrom a generally rectangular paper sheet part having a top edge andopposite sides, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating arecess in the sheet part adjacent the top edge; (b) sealing the sides ofthe sheet part to form a generally cylindrical body; (c) aligning theportions of the body on either side of the recess; (d) moving thealigned portions of the body together into side-by-side relation; and(e) folding the aligned portions to a position adjacent the exterior ofthe cup body such that the recess forms a spout.
 8. The method of claim7 further comprising the step of: (f) securing the aligned portions tothe exterior of the cup body.
 9. The method of claim 7 furthercomprising the steps of: (g) creating a generally cylindrical sleeve ofheat insulating material; and (h) inserting the cup body into thesleeve.
 10. The method of claim 7 further comprising forming a bottomfor the cup body and sealing the bottom to the cup body.
 11. The methodof claim 9 wherein said method results in a cup body which is entirelyenclosed, except for an integral spout.
 12. The method of claim 7further comprising the steps of: (i) creating a sleeve; and (j)inserting the cup body in the sleeve.